This Week in Harrisburg: 6 Things to Know

May 11, 2026

The House and Senate stand in recess until the week of June 1, when both chambers return to Harrisburg for joint session.

Here is what happened last week:

• Maternal Health Expansion:  Pennsylvania took a major step toward expanding maternal health access last week, as Governor Shapiro signed two major HAP-supported bills into law. Senate Bill 507, now Act 14 of 2026, officially establishes a licensure pathway for certified midwives and allows for prescriptive authorities for certain opioid use disorder medications. House Bill 1251, now Act 12 of 2026, authorizes midwives to refer patients directly for physical therapy services.
• AI in Health Care:  The House Communications and Technology Committee advanced legislation to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care settings across Pennsylvania (HB 1925). While the bill was amended to scale back certain reporting requirements, HAP remains opposed and advocates for an approach that supports innovation and emerging technologies rather than creating unnecessary administrative burdens on providers.  
• Combatting Workplace Violence:  Senator Frank Farry’s HAP-supported Hospital Security Grant Fund legislation (SB 1306) was introduced last week, proposing a $10 million grant funding program to help hospitals strengthen security infrastructure based on individual facility needs. As workplace violence in health care settings remains a growing crisis, HAP continues to advocate for practical safety solutions over one-size-fits-all mandates.
• Modernizing Outdated Hospital Regulations:  Representative Bridget Kosierowski’s HAP-supported legislation (HR 513) was formally introduced last week, directing the Joint State Government Commission to study outdated hospital regulations and identify opportunities to modernize burdensome requirements. HAP remains focused on advancing regulatory reforms that improve efficiency without compromising patient safety.
• Medical Liability Developments:  Medical liability remained a point of focus last week as the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee released its report on the feasibility of no-fault catastrophic loss fund for birth-related neurological injuries in Pennsylvania. The House also adopted a resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to study medical errors in the commonwealth (HR 203).
• Rural Health Transformation Program:  The Center for Rural Pennsylvania held a hearing on the commonwealth’s strategy for maximizing the impact of federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding with Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Valerie Arkoosh highlighting the Administration’s plans and priorities. HAP has been working closely with the administration on this effort and was specifically recognized by Secretary Arkoosh for its partnership in helping to shape and support strategies that maximize the benefit of this investment.